Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurf Aotatsu’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Petunia  plant named ‘Sunsurf Aotatsu’, characterized by its trailing and decumbent plant habit; vigorous growth habit; freely branching habit; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; large dark violet-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Petunia×hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘SUNSURF AOTATSU’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Petunia plant, botanically known as Petunia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘Sunsurf Aotatsu’.

The new Petunia plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan. The objective of the breeding program is to create new freely branching and freely flowering Petunia plants with a trailing plant habit and large and attractive flowers.

The new Petunia plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in July, 2009 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px5077-01, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary selection of Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px107-5B, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Petunia plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan in September, 2010.

Asexual reproduction of the new Petunia plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled greenhouse environment in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan since September, 2010 has shown that the unique features of this new Petunia plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Petunia have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and cultural conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Sunsurf Aotatsu’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Sunsurf Aotatsu’ as a new and distinct Petunia plant:

-   -   1. Trailing and decumbent plant habit.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit.     -   3. Freely branching habit.     -   4. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   5. Long flowering period.     -   6. Large dark violet-colored flowers.     -   7. Good garden performance.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia are more freely branching than         plants of the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia flower later than plants of the         female parent selection.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia had larger flowers than plants of         the female parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Petunia differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in time to flower as plants of the new Petunia flower earlier than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Petunia can also be compared to plants of the Petunia ‘Sunsurfgigabu’, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,645. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan, plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunsurfgigabu’ differed primarily in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Petunia were taller and broader than plants         of ‘Sunsurfgigabu’.     -   2. Plants of the new Petunia had shorter internodes than plants         of ‘Sunsurfgigabu’.     -   3. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller leaves than plants of         ‘Sunsurfgigabu’.     -   4. Plants of the new Petunia were more freely flowering than         plants of ‘Sunsurfgigabu’.     -   5. Plants of the new Petunia had smaller flowers than plants of         ‘Sunsurfgigabu’.     -   6. Plants of the new Petunia had longer peduncles than plants of         ‘Sunsurfgigabu’.     -   7. Plants of the new Petunia and ‘Sunsurfgigabu’ differed in         flower color as plants of ‘Sunsurfgigabu’ had purple         violet-colored flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Petunia plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Petunia plant.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurf Aotatsu’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘Sunsurf Aotatsu’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the summer in 15-cm containers in an outdoor nursery in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and under cultural practices typical of commercial Petunia production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 23° C. and night temperatures averaged 13° C. Plants were four months old when the photographs and the description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Petunia×hybrida ‘Sunsurf Aotatsu’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px5077-01, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary selection of             Petunia×hybrida identified as code number Px107-5B, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer and winter.—About one week at             temperatures of about 15° C. to 20° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer and             winter.—About three weeks at temperatures of about 15° C. to             20° C.         -   Root description.—Fibrous; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Trailing and decumbent plant             habit; freely branching habit with numerous lateral branches             developing per plant; pinching enhances lateral branch             development; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 24 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 86.3 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 39 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2.1 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.9 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong, flexible.         -   Aspect.—Decumbent.         -   Texture.—Pubescent; viscid.         -   Color.—Close to 145A. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, simple.         -   Length.—About 3.4 cm.         -   Width.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; reticulate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 144A.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 144B. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 143A; venation,             close to 145A. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to 143C; venation, close to 144D.         -   Petioles.—Length: About 4 mm. Diameter: About 2.7 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper             and lower surfaces: Close to 145A. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Single salverform flowers             arising from upper leaf axils; freely flowering habit with             usually about 101 flowers developing per plant; flowers face             upright to outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Petunia initiate and develop flowers about two weeks             after planting; long flowering period, flowering commences             naturally during the spring and plants flower continuously             throughout the summer until late autumn in Japan.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about five days on             the plant; flowers not persistent.         -   Flower diameter.—About 5.5 cm.         -   Flower length (depth).—About 4 cm.         -   Throat diameter.—About 1.5 cm.         -   Tube diameter, base.—About 4.7 mm.         -   Tube length.—About 3.1 cm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 3.9 cm. Diameter: About 7.6 mm.             Shape: Cylindrical. Color: Close to 83B.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five petals fused at the base and             opening into a flared trumpet. Petal length from throat:             About 2.3 cm. Petal width: About 2.4 cm. Petal shape:             Spatulate. Petal apex: Acute. Petal margin: Entire,             undulate. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Petal texture, lower surface: Smooth, glabrous.             Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture: Pubescent.             Color: Petal, when opening, upper surface: Close to 86A.             Petal, when opening, lower surface: Close to 86C. Petal,             fully opened, upper surface: Close to 83A; venation, close             to 83A; color becoming closer to N87A with development.             Petal, fully opened, lower surface: Close to 86B; venation,             close to 86B. Throat: Close to 84A; venation, close to N92A.             Tube: Close to 86B; venation, close to 86B.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One star-shaped calyx tube with five             sepals in a single whorl and fused at the base. Sepal             length: About 1.2 cm. Sepal width: About 6.3 mm. Sepal             shape: Elliptic. Sepal apex: Obtuse. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture, upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color:             Developing sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to 144B.             Fully developed sepals, upper and lower surfaces: Close to             144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.9 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Strength: Strong. Aspect: Mostly outwardly. Texture:             Pubescent. Color: Close to 144A tinted with close to 86B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity per flower: Five.             Stamen length: About 1.6 cm to 2 cm. Anther shape:             Ellipsoidal. Anther size: About 1.2 mm by 2.3 mm. Anther             color: Close to 4D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color:             Close to 4D. Pistils: Quantity per flower: One. Pistil             length: About 2.2 cm. Style color: Close to 144D. Stigma             shape: Transversely ellipsoidal. Stigma color: Close to             144A. Ovary color: Close to 144C. Seeds and fruits: Seed and             fruit development have not been observed on plants of the             new Petunia. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Petunia have been observed to     have good garden performance and to tolerate rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about 5° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Petunia have not been     observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Petunia     plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Petunia plant named ‘Sunsurf Aotatsu’ as illustrated and described. 